JACK Cullen says he will be “too good” for John Harding Jr when he defends his English title against the Dillian Whyte-managed middleweight in Liverpool on Friday August 2, live on Sky Sports.

Having plied his trade in numerous shows in the North West, winning the English belt against Jack Sellars at the Bolton Whites Hotel in May, Cullen will be hoping for a breakout night on Merseyside against Brixton’s Harding Jr who holds a record of seven wins and one draw.

The card will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky and in the USA on DAZN.

The 25-year-old Tommy Battel-trained talent from Bolton has lost just one of his 17 professional fights – a defeat that came in mitigating circumstances in the final of the Last Man Standing knockout tournament in Ireland last year – and is promising to shine on the big stage to secure a shot at Commonwealth champion Felix Cash later in the year.

“I wouldn’t turn down a shot like this if I was in his position so good on him for taking the fight,” said ‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’.

“I don’t know too much about him but we’ve watched a few of his fights and I know he’s got seven wins and one draw.

“I think this step up is too soon for him. I feel like I’m too good for him.

“He’s been out there talking a lot in interviews and making a bit of noise ahead of our fight, which is good.

“He’s been saying that he’s going to be doing this and doing that.

“I’m glad I’ve got an opponent that’s confident in himself.

“He talks the talk but we’ll see if he walks the walk.

“I’m excited and it’s good to get on a Matchroom Boxing show that’s going to be live on Sky Sports.

“It can only be good for my profile and I’m looking to put on a career-best performance to really get my name out there.

“I’m looking to put on the best performance of my life.

“Once I beat Harding Jr. I want the Commonwealth title. If it would have come earlier this month then it would have been perfect but obviously he got injured and the show had to be postponed which was a shame.

“Hopefully we can rearrange it for later in the year, maybe October or November.”

Cullen vs Harding Jr. is part of a bumper JD NXTGEN card in Liverpool.

Also on the bill at Liverpool’s Exhibition Centre are Heywood’s Nathan Farrell, brother of former professional Kieran

Farrell, who will be making his pro debut, and Anthony

Crolla’s lightweight

protege, Dylan Evans.